Carrying handle assembly for cartons

ABSTRACT

A carrying handle for cardboard cartons having two sets of opposed overlapping top flaps, including a base plate with four threaded studs equiangularly positioned on the base plate so that with the base plate appropriately positioned beneath the closed flaps each threaded fastener extends through aligned openings in two of the flaps, there being provided a top plate over the closed flaps with four apertures for receiving the threaded studs, with wing nuts on the studs for holding the plates together, and a carrying handle fixed to the top plate.

United States Patent 21161111611 1451 Jan. 1, 1974 [54] CARRYING HANDLEASSEMBLY FOR 2,910,714 11/1959 Becker 16/114 R CARTONS 3,068,972 12/1962Armstrong 190/56 3,221,977 12/1965 PO11I1 229/52 AM Inventor: ArthurEichholz, PO10, 3,276,663 /1966 Falconer 229 47 [73] Assignee: CentralQuality Industries, Inc., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,106,06912/1955 France 229/47 [22] Filed: May 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 252,476

US. Cl 229/52 AM, 16/114 R, 229/47,

229/52 A [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/46 [58] Field of Search 229/47, 52 A, 52AL, 229/52 AM; 16/114 R; 224/ H, 294/27 R, 27 H; /55, 56, 58 A;220/55.7, 94 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PrimaryExaminer-William T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant ExaminerStephen MarcusAttorney-Axel A. Hofgren et al,

[57] ABSTRACT A carrying handle for cardboard. cartons having two setsof opposed overlapping top flaps, including a base plate with fourthreaded studs equiangularly positioned on the base plate so that withthe base plate appropriately positioned beneath the closed flaps eachthreaded fastener extends through aligned openings in two of the flaps,there being provided a top plate over the closed flaps with fourapertures for receiving the threaded studs, with wing nuts on the studsfor holding the plates together, and a carrying handle fixed to the topplate.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 V CARRYING HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR CARTONSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The manual lifting of cardboard containersof relatively large size has been a significant problem with salesmen,displayers, and others who transport the same carton between differentlocations. The transporting of cartons of a large size by supportingthem on the shoulder is not only quite difficult, but a maneuver whichis not facilitated by conventional clothing as worn by salesmen andother white-collar workers.

One solution for carrying cartons in the past is to wrap the entirecarton in string and attach a removable handle to the string portions atthe top of the carton. This solution has notproved entirely satisfactorybecause the handle assembly tends to pull over too far to one side ofthe carton, particularly if the article within the carton has aconsiderable weight.

It is a primary object of the present invention to minimize the problemsnoted above with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, a carrying handle assembly is provided that releasablyattaches to the top flaps of a carboard carton and permits the carton,even though it be of considerable size, to be easily carried from onelocation to another by the carrying handle. l

Cardboard cartons are generally constructed so that they have fouroverlapping top flaps, with opposed flaps in nearly abutting relation.Basically, there are provided top and bottom plates between which thesecarton flaps are sandwiched to provide an excellent grip on the carton.

Toward this end, the bottom plate is provided with four equiangularlyspaced upwardly projecting studs with the studs being positioned so thateach extends throughtwo adjacent top flaps of the carton. In thismanner, the studs extend through the grip in toto eight openings in thetop flaps, two in each flap.

A top plate rests on top of the flaps and has four openings whichreceive the upwardly projecting studs. Wing nuts threadably engaging thestuds rigidly clamp the flaps between the two plates. A handle isprovided fixed to the top plate for manual carrying of the entire box orcontainer.

The method of fixing the present carrying handle apparatus to thecontainer also forms a partof the present invention. In order'toaccurately make the receiving holes in the flaps in the proper position,the flaps are closed, and the bottom plate placed upside down on top ofthe flaps and the flaps marked by a pencil or pen at the location of thestuds. The top plate is then removed and the pencil marks are punchedthrough all four flaps of the carton.

The bottom plate is then turned with the studs facing upwardly andplaced within the container held in place either by the article withinthe container or by a piece of cardboard cut the size of the inside ofthe container so that it fits snugly therein and supports the bottomplate near the top of the container to facilitate placement of the flapsin the closed position with the cover plate inside the container.Thereafter, one opposed set of flaps is closed over the bottom platewith the. studs projecting through each flap and thereafter the oppositeopposed set of flaps are closed over the same studs.

The top plate is then placed over the projecting studs and the wing nutsfastened into position. i

It should be understood that the present handle is readily removable andmay be used over and over again on different containers as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acontainer with the carrying handle assembly according to the presentinvention shown in its affixed position;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1illustrating the carrying handle assembly and its relationship to thecontainer flaps; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a container and the'carrying handleassembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I Referring to thedrawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a carton of conventionalconstruction is illustrated having a carrying handle assembly 12 in itsaffixed position as shown in FIG. 1. Handle assembly 12 is particularlyuseful for manually carrying cartons 10 of considerable size and weightfrom one location to another.

The container 10 is seen to include side walls 15 and 16 that haveprojecting from the upper ends thereof flaps 17, 18, 19 and 20. Theflaps l7 and 19 are re ferred herein to as opposed flaps as are theflaps 18 and 20, and when these opposed flaps are in their closedposition, their ends are spaced somewhat as shown at 22 in FIG. 2.

The handle assembly consists of a bottom plate 24, top plate 25 and ahandle 26 rivited as at 27 to the top plate 25. v

The bottom plate 24 is rectangular in construction and has rigidly fixedthereto four upwardly projecting threaded studs 28, 29, 30 and 31. Thestuds are positioned' at the corners of an imaginary square on the plate24 and are also equiangularlly space on the plate.

The bottom plate 24 lies immediately below the lowermost flaps 17 and 19centrally of the container as shown in FIG, 2, Stud 28 projects throughopenings 36 in flap l7 and 37 in flap 20. Stud 29 projects throughopenings 40 in flap 19 and 41 in flap 20. Stud 30 projects throughopenings 43 in flap l9 and 44 in flap l8, and stud 31 projects throughopenings 46 in flap 17 and 48 in flap 18. s

In this manner each of the studs 28, 29, 30 and 31 projects throughaligned apertures in adjacent flaps so that when subjected to the upwardforce provided by handle 26, the aligned apertures on each stud andtheirflaps will tend to separate, but are prevented from doing soby the studsthemselves, and in this manner a very rigid handle assembly is providedand no relative movement is permitted between the handle assembly andthe carton or its flaps.

The top plate 25 provides the support for the handle 26 and also locksthe bottom plate 24 in position.

Toward this end, the top plate 25 is generally rectangular inconfiguration and has apertures 50, 51,.52and 53 aligned with the studs31, 28, 29 and 30 for freely receiving the same. For the purpose oflocking the top plate 25 to the top of the flaps 18, 20 and sandwichingthe flaps between the plates 24 and 25, wing nuts 56 are l7 and 19thereby providing the necessary aligned holes in the adjacent flaps.Thereafter, the bottom plate 24 is positioned within the container withthe flaps open. This is accomplished either by supporting the plate 24on the article within the container or cutting out a piece of cardboard60 slightly larger in size than the inside of the container 10 so thatit can be snugly placed therein in the position shown in FIG. 3 tosupport the bottom plate 24 during assembly of the handle.

With the bottom plate 24 supported within the container, the flaps 17and 19 are closed over their respective studs and the studs arepermitted to project therethrough. Thereafter, the flaps 18 and 20 areclosed over the same studs. The top plate is then placed over the studswith the studs projecting therethrough and the wing nuts 56 threaded tothe studs firmly attaching the top plate in position and clamping theflaps between the plates 24 and 25. The carrying handle is then readyfor use, and may be removed simply by removing the wing nuts 56 anddisassembling the handle in the reverse order described above forassembly.

1 claim:

1. A carrying handle assembly for a carton of the rectangular typehaving four 90 angularly related top flaps, comprising: a base memberpositionable beneath all of said flaps when in closed positions, a topmember positionable on top of all of said flaps when in closedpositions, at least two fasteners extending from one of said members tothe other of said members, each of said fasteners being positioned sothat it projects through two of said flaps to secure the members to allof said flaps, and carrying handle means fixed to the top member.

2. The carrying handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said base member isa generally rectangular plate, said fasteners being treaded fastenersextending upwardly from and fixed to said base plate.

3. The carrying handle assembly of claim 2, wherein said top member is agenerally rectangular plate, apertures in said top plate for receivingthe threaded fasteners, and wing nuts on top of said top plate andthreadedly engaging said threaded fasteners.

4. The carrying handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastenersinclude four threaded fasteners fixed to I and projecting upwardlytherefrom, said threaded fasteners being spaced approximately from oneanother so that each projects upwardly through two flaps of the carton.

5. A carrying handle assembly for a carton of the rectangular typehaving four 90 angularly related top flaps, comprising: a generallyrectangular base plate positionable below all of said flapsapproximately centrally thereof when the flaps are in the closedposition, four threaded fasteners fixed to and projecting upwardly fromthe base plate, said threaded fasteners being spaced approximately 90apart so that each fastener extends through two flaps of the carton, agenerally rectangular top plate positionable on top of all of saidcarton flaps when in a closed position, said top plate having fourapertures therein for receiving the upwardly projecting threadedfasteners, nut means on each of said threaded fasteners for clamping theplates against the carton flaps, and a carrying handle fixed to the topplate.

6. The carrying handle assembly of claim 5, including means for holdingsaid bottom plate in position beneath the flaps while the flaps areclosed over the upwardly projecting fasteners.

7. The carrying handle assembly of claim 6, wherein said means forholding the bottom plate in position includes a rectangular cardboardpiece sized to fit snugly within the container interior adjacent theupper portion thereof.

8. A method for attaching a carrying handle assembly to a carton havingfour 90 related flaps at the top thereof, including the steps of:holding a base plate having at least two fasteners projecting upwardlytherefrom within the container at the upper portion thereof, closing twoopposed flaps over the fasteners so that each has one fastenerprojecting therethrough, closing the second opposed flaps over thefasteners so that each has one fastener projecting therethrough, placinga cover plate having a carrying handle over the projecting fasteners andfixing the upper plate thereto.

9. A method for attaching a carrying handle assembly to a carton havingfour 90 related flaps at the top thereof as defined in claim 8, whereinthe lower plate has four spaced fasteners projecting upwardly therefrom,said first set of flaps being closed over the fasteners so that twofasteners project through each flap, the second set of flaps beingclosed over the fasteners so that two fasteners project through eachflap.

1. A carrying handle assembly for a carton of the rectangular typehaving four 90* angularly related top flaps, comprising: a base memberpositionable beneath all of said flaps when in closed positions, a topmember positionable on top of all of said flaps when in closedpositions, at least two fasteners extending from one of said members tothe other of said members, each of said fasteners being positioned sothat it projects through two of said flaps to secure the members to allof said flaps, and carrying handle means fixed to the top member.
 2. Thecarrying handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said base member is agenerally rectangular plate, said fasteners being treaded fastenersextending upwardly from and fixed to said base plate.
 3. The carryinghandle assembly of claim 2, wherein said top member is a generallyrectangular plate, apertures in said top plate for receiving thethreaded fasteners, and wing nuts on top of said top plate andthreadedly engaging said threaded fasteners.
 4. The carrying handleassembly of claim 1, wherein said fasteners include four threadedfasteners fixed to and projecting upwardly therefrom, said threadedfasteners being spaced approximately 90* from one another so that eachprojects upwardly through two flaps of the carton.
 5. A carrying handleassembly for a carton of the rectangular type having four 90* angularlyrelated top flaps, comprising: a generally rectangular base platepositionable below all of said flaps approximately centrally thereofwhen the flaps are in the closed position, four threaded fasteners fixedto and projecting upwardly from the base plate, said threaded fastenersbeing spaced approximately 90* apart so that each fastener extendsthrough two flaps of the carton, a generally rectangular top platepositionable on top of all of said carton flaps when in a closedposition, said top plate having four apertures therein for receiving theupwardly projecting threaded fasteners, nut means on each of saidthreaded fasteners for clamping the plates against the carton flaps, anda carrying handle fixed to the top plate.
 6. The carrying handleassembly of claim 5, including means for holding said bottom plate inposition beneath the flaps while the flaps are closed over the upwardlyprojecting fasteners.
 7. The carrying handle assembly of claim 6,wherein said means for holding the bottom plate in position includes arectangular cardboard piece sized to fit snugly within the containerinterior adjacent the upper portion thereof.
 8. A mEthod for attaching acarrying handle assembly to a carton having four 90* related flaps atthe top thereof, including the steps of: holding a base plate having atleast two fasteners projecting upwardly therefrom within the containerat the upper portion thereof, closing two opposed flaps over thefasteners so that each has one fastener projecting therethrough, closingthe second opposed flaps over the fasteners so that each has onefastener projecting therethrough, placing a cover plate having acarrying handle over the projecting fasteners and fixing the upper platethereto.
 9. A method for attaching a carrying handle assembly to acarton having four 90* related flaps at the top thereof as defined inclaim 8, wherein the lower plate has four spaced fasteners projectingupwardly therefrom, said first set of flaps being closed over thefasteners so that two fasteners project through each flap, the secondset of flaps being closed over the fasteners so that two fastenersproject through each flap.